“The arranging chutzpuh of Ennio Morricone, vocal swagger of Van Morrison and dark spirituality and intelligence of Nick Cave" - The Australian

Hailing from Gunditjmara country in the deep south of Australia, Nigel Wearne is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with diverse influences including Nick Cave, Tom Waits, and Rickie Lee Jones. He was the winner of the prestigious 2025 Telluride Blues Challenge and on Friday, May 8, he arrives in Maine to perform at the historic Opera House in Boothbay Harbor.

Nigel has toured Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK, Ireland and Canada and performed in front of thousands at some of the world's most prestigious music festivals including Hardly Strictly luegrass (USA), MerleFest (USA), Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (USA), Woodford Folk Festival (AUS), 30A Songwriters Festival (USA), Clonakilty Intl. Guitar Festival (IRE) and Philadelphia Folk Festival (USA).

His album, "Black Crow" garnered wide critical acclaim including a 4-Star review in Rolling Stone, a nomination for Best Country Album at the Music Victoria Awards; and it debuted at #1 on Australia's AMRAP Charts. His 2023 album, "The Reckoning," received back-to-back nominations for Best Blues Work at the 2023 & 2024 Music Victoria Awards and a 4-Star review in The Australian and had two songs selected as finalists (top #10) in the International Songwriting Competition.

Tickets to hear this international rising star, garnering rave reviews, are $20 in advance from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave. or by calling 207-633-5159. Regular tickets are $25 and available online at https://www.boothbayoperahouse.com. Doors for seating open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30.

“Warmth flecked with grit…beauty awaits.” – Rolling Stone

Here's another tune ....https://nigelwearne.bandcamp.com/album/the-reckoning